Fig. 3.

Direct ¹⁴C dates of AMH and Neanderthal fossils. The data are plotted against the new IntCal09 calibration curve (22) and compared with the NGRIP δ¹⁸O ice-core record of Svensson et al. (41) and Andersen et al. (42). Numbers indicate Greenland interstadials. Calibrated probability distributions shown in light mauve are considered problematic. These include determinations now known to be underestimates of the “true” age [e.g., Kent's Cavern (38)], those which have been remeasured using improved preparative techniques shown to be more reliable (12), or those that are repeat dates of the same bone which are unrealistically young (7) (see also ref. 5 for further discussion). Results in dark purple are considered likely minimum ages. All others are in black and considered acceptable. The Kent's Cavern specimen originally identified as AMH is now being reanalyzed, but for the time being we include it in the AMH group. Its likely age is between 35 and 37 ka BP (38).